Claremont McKenna College Presidential Search

How can I stay abreast of the Search Committee’s process and progress?
The Search Committee’s progress has been and will continue to be reported to the CMC community in emails from Search Committee Chair Kenneth Valach. All communications will be posted to the Presidential Search website.

Why is the search confidential?
The Search Committee’s goal is to attract and recruit the most qualified individual possible to be the next president of CMC. Toward that end, most qualified candidates will only participate in a search that keeps their identities strictly confidential. As a result, and consistent with the best practices followed by private colleges and universities, the College has decided to conduct a confidential search.

What is the timeline for the search?
The Search Committee has already started its work, and it plans to work diligently through this summer and through the 2025-26 academic year. The Committee does not have a fixed deadline for completing the process. The Board’s charge to the Committee is to have a new president in place by July 1, 2026.

How can I provide input to the Search Committee?
The Search Committee has organized several opportunities for members of the CMC community to provide their input. First, individuals are strongly encouraged to send written feedback, including potential nominations, or directly to the Committee by e-mail pressearch@cmc.edu. Second, at the beginning of the school year there will be open forums on campus for the students, faculty, and staff to meet with the Search Committee and provide input.

Who makes the final decision to appoint the next president?
Consistent with the College’s Bylaws, the Board of Trustees will make the final decision to appoint the next president.

Will the Search Committee consider candidates who do not come from the academic world?
The Committee is open to leaders of genuine talent with an unwavering commitment to CMC’s mission and a love of the academy. As a result, we expect to look broadly and are open to all types of nominations. Nonetheless, we anticipate that most serious candidates will have an academic leadership dimension in their background.